Work with your healthcare team to control your asthma

Asthma is variable – your asthma symptoms can get better or worse. If you know how to take care of your asthma every day, you can avoid getting asthma attacks.Your health-care team can teach you how to manage your asthma symptoms. They can help you fill out a written asthma action plan. Your asthma action plan tells you exactly how to treat your symptoms, and what to do when your symptoms get worse.

People on your asthma healthcare team may include:

Your doctor – you may have a family doctor and a respirologist (breathing specialist doctor)

Your nurse

Your pharmacist

Your certified asthma educator (CAE) or certified respiratory educator (CRE): Certified asthma educators and certified respiratory educators are respiratory therapists, nurses, pharmacist, or physiotherapists who have special training to teach people about asthma. They are experts at explaining how asthma affects you and what you can do about it. To find a Certified Asthma Educator or Certified Respiratory Educator, ask your local Lung Association or your doctor. Or look for an asthma education clinic near you - search our online database of asthma programs and clinics.